Tag: upgrade

Refurbished infrastructure is available from all the major vendors such as IBM, Sun/Oracle, HP, Cisco, HDS and EMC

A quick note to let you know that you can host your iSeries disaster recovery (DR) system at our premises. Success Story Recently a customer purchased a high availability solution from us for their IBM iSeries environment. This involved Maxava HA software licenses, installation and setup of the Maxava HA software and associated ongoing maintenance. [...]

31st January, 2006 – 27th May, 2011

Designed for your business. Easily consolidate multiple servers, towers and racks into one scalable and manageable solution. Run your entire business. It supports many applications your company might run including Windows®, AIX®, IBM i and Linux® when you add IBM Blade Servers. Easier to manage. With server, storage, networking and management tools integrated into a [...]

We can help you across the range of HP Servers Whether you’re looking for new hardware or used hardware, ask us how we can help. HP has the following range of servers on offer: HP BladeSystem The HP BladeSystem was designed to deliver a versatile, all-in-one infrastructure for customer sites that have limited ICT staff, [...]

Magstar 3590 tape drives have been available from the secondhand market for a long time now. Most of you have left, or are about to leave, that technology behind. A lot of our customers are considering newer technologies of 3592 and LTO to replace their 3494 automated tape libraries. What are my non-LTO options? Computer [...]

Have you ever considered Computer Merchants for your Mainframe? Mainframe vendors are few and far between, and very few of them would have 30 years of experience in dealing with mainframe systems. Since 1979, Computer Merchants has been dealing with large systems. We can help you with many of your mainframe requirements: Our systems come [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Specials” for more information on the following items. Upgrade Your 520 1000 CPW System Now! Upgrade to 2400/2400 CPW Over double the CPW power! $29,500 Rental Special [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Specials” for more information on the following items. IBM Machines IBM 9406/810 P10 750/570 CPW 2GB/200GB V5R2 QU1 XW1 $11,000 IBM 9406/520 P20 0/3300 CPW 8GB/980GB $31,000 [...]

The decision to use a High Availability (HA) product is not as straight forward as it would first appear It is usually an agreement between the business and the IT Department around Service Level Agreements the business requires. This may differ between applications as some businesses have critical applications. You may also need to consider [...]

If you are contemplating upgrading to HMC Code 7.3.3., here are a couple of tips that may assist you when you perform the install. After you have imported your system plan or created your LPAR’s, you may get this error when you open up a 5250 console session: HMC not configured for this LPAR and [...]

Although hardware is a big part of our portfolio, for some time now we have been working towards being a one-stop shop for our customers by expanding our services portfolio. Some of the services we provide that you may not be aware of are: Consultancy on solutions upgrades and consolidations Relocations of data centres with [...]

On a recent trip to Melbourne, one of our reps had the opportunity to walk through probably the largest collection of operational mainframes in Australia, including some fairly recently installed z10′s (love the green touch IBM!). Rows and rows of 3494 tape libraries are also an impressive sight and a reminder of the changing landscape [...]

Challenging times Everywhere we go it seems that the news is rather bleak with regard to the global economy. Most of the commentary is reporting on past events (the majority being about losses instead of gains) and very little being able to provide help or insights into the future. Our business relationships are much like [...]

Since the relaunch of our web site in December 2007, we’ve been slowly adding our older newsletters. This month, we added our newsletter from July 2006. Even though these articles are 2 years old, there is still quite a lot of information that is just as relevant as ever. Highlights of July 2006 15 Point [...]

VMware Certification For Computer Merchants As many of you would know, virtualisation is a very hot topic at the moment! Just recently, five members of the Computer Merchants Sales team attended the VMware Sales Professional (VSP) training course. The course was structured to educate a business partner on how to provide a virtualisation solution based [...]

Did you take advantage of IBM’s upgrade offer last December for the 810 or 825 machines? If so, you may have some leftover server parts still on your hands. As part of the upgrade offer, IBM will use some of your existing server parts for the new server and take away your older iSeries 810 [...]

If there is an alternative available, we’re happy to offer it We always take the time to understand your needs and what you are trying to achieve. We don’t expect you to be the expert in feature codes and part numbers - that’s something we can do for you. Instead, tell us what you want to do, and let [...]

Here’s a quick summary of services we offer our customers either here at Computer Merchants or onsite. IBM System i has been a great part of our business, but these days we are also seeing lots of BladeCenter services coming through. We have installed IBM System i, System p, System x, BladeCenter, HMC and Sun hardware, [...]

Monthly Hardware Specials As many of you would have already seen, Computer Merchants have introduced monthly specials across IBM, HP and Sun hardware. These specials are unique to Computer Merchants as we are dedicated to working with our suppliers to provide specials meeting your requirements and budgetary needs. Timely And Flexible These specials are timely [...]

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, the firmware on the Sun StorEdge 3000 series arrays has been an issue for some end users. Interactive is on the ball. They are encouraging customers to upgrade the firmware levels on all their arrays within this family even before something goes wrong. They also encourage customers to [...]

Do you want to keep ‘green screen’ functionality but have an easier to use, more modern system? Many System i customers have applications that are developed in-house using RPG. We know of one case of a customer’s application which provided excellent coverage of their corporate distribution and manufacturing requirements. However, some of the specific challenges [...]

The successor to IBM Query/400 has arrived in the form of DB2 Web Query Based on the latest Web 2.0 and AJAX web technologies, DB2 Web Query allows any enterprise browser to be used for the user interface. Several of the key features include: WYSIWYG Report ‘painter’ Web Based HTML and PDF viewing Pivot and [...]

Many of us who have been around a while will know that partitions in an IT environment are nothing new, particularly in a mainframe environment. However in the past few years the concept of Logical Partitioning has made a resurgence. The benefits to users are many, including: Reduces floor area, reducing real estate usage Ability [...]

We’re hearing from so many of you that Solaris 10 is a lot easier to use than previous versions of Solaris. And it’s also a very economical operating system. If you’re running Solaris 8 or 9 maybe you should consider upgrading to Solaris 10. Solaris 10 is free, and provided your applications can be supported, [...]

At Computer Merchants, we’re able to help customers get the performance they need and save money by buying refurbished Mainframe systems instead of buying new units. Success Story  One customer recently needed to move a Mainframe workload from unsupported hardware to a new system, but the price of a new Mainframe server made this prohibitive. [...]

So many businesses today are running a range of machines across different vendors We have found that many of you, for various reasons, are using a combination of vendors. To be as helpful as we can, we’d like to make sure that we can supply all of the equipment you need regardless of who manufactures [...]

Earlier this year, IBM debuted new LTO 4 hardware These units incorporate the latest generation of advanced Linear Tape-OpenTM (LTO) technology, and are suited for handling the backup, save and restore, and archival data storage needs of a wide range of small systems as single drives. Or when configured into libraries, LTO 4 can handle [...]

Many organisations use technology leasing as a way to conserve capital Technology can be expensive and typically competes for capital funding with other investment or expenditure opportunities. Due to its inherent flexibility, leasing offers innovative ways to acquire IT equipment that can reduce much of the risk and uncertainty in purchasing new technology and increase [...]

A little while ago we realised, from our customer feedback forms, that many companies were stuck with older generation System p hardware. This was mostly due to cost of upgrade and migration issues. These systems also had high maintenance costs due to the hardware age – in fact, maintenance was ranging between $10k – $50k [...]

Success Story We recently had an email from a very happy customer who had bought a new IBM System i model 525 from us to replace his AS/400 model 720. Here’s an edit of what came through: Good afternoon Norm and Warwick, Well you have sold me a dud!!!!!! Now that I’ve got your attention… [...]

As you know, many organisations have legacy software systems which have run their business successfully for years. They have a large investment in the software, and it would be difficult and costly to replace. But at Computer Merchants, we work with a great team at a company called ComActivity. These guys can upgrade your legacy [...]

IBM, Sun, Cisco, Lexmark, HP And More We have a worldwide network of more than 3,000 users and over 400 equipment brokers through which we can source the perfect equipment to meet your particular and demanding requirements. Our used hardware includes: IBM AS/400s, RS/6000s and S/390s Complete Systems Model upgrades Memory and Disk Additional features [...]

Computer Merchants offer you the flexibility to structure your finances to suit your needs.  Rent You can rent IBM and Sun equipment through Computer Merchants. Renting gives you extra capacity when you need it – without a big outlay. If you have a budget to stick to, a combination of used equipment and rental on [...]

At Computer Merchants we buy, sell, trade, rent and lease used and new IBM midrange and mainframe hardware, plus Sun servers and workstations. Founded in 1979, we have built a solid reputation in the business for a customer service focus and careful attention to detail. Based in Brisbane, Australia, we have a worldwide network of more than [...]

Computer Merchants have experienced staff available to help you with not only your IBM iSeries modifications and enhancements but other parts of your business. Some of the services we provide that you may not be aware of are: Consultancy on solutions upgrades and consolidations Relocations of data centres with shut down and restore Software platform [...]

If you are in a position where an upgrade or refreshment of equipment is due and you are considering your DR plan we can help you. We have completed several of these types of installations recently and with the right planning it is very easy to manage. Each situation is of course different. We ensure [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Specials” for more information on the following items. IBM Complete Systems IBM 9406/520 #8954 #7455 (3300/3300 cpw), V5R3, 12GB Memory, 980GB Disk, Raid, Ethernet, #0595 disk expansion [...]

The i515 proved to be a life saver for one organisation recently when their 9406-170 almost ground to a halt.

Like most of us, the time comes when we need to upgrade our machine and often our first thought is how much is that going to cost me? Let’s face it, if I’m buying some new equipment, I naturally expect it’ll cost me money. Well, that’s not always the case. Success Story Recently, we had [...]

Too many projects on the go at once? Not enough money to go around to complete all the projects? Sound familiar? Success Story We have recently been able to buy approximately 18 months of time for a customer, saving them from the dilemma of what to do when they don’t have the budget to purchase [...]

New Entry System Offerings Model 515 Model 525 User based pricing Cache and Disk packages Disk Price Reduction Up to 50% off on disk units Enterprise System Enhancements 595 faster POWER5+ processors (2.3GHz) Higher CPW, Same Editions available 595 32GB DIMM update may have a long lead time 4mm Tape Drive Entry level Tape unit [...]

Yes, you know we rent, sell, buy and lease new and used IBM, Sun, HP, Cisco and other hardware. But we’re also able to help with your Software Technical Support and Programming. Computer Merchants have experienced staff available to help you -  not only with your iSeries modifications and enhancements –  but also in other parts [...]

A number of our customers find that they need to upgrade their System i server but they don’t have the budget for a whole new server. They often find that they can “buy some time” inexpensively by purchasing a processor upgrade for their existing machine. By spending a bit of money now they can further [...]

At Computer Merchants, we are committed to ensuring that your installation is completed to your absolute satisfaction We will ensure that we provide every assistance to make sure you’re “completely happy with the end result” as our standard Plain English Sales Conditions state. Our systems have been developed over many years to make sure we avoid [...]

The Computer Merchants Team are feeling the heat! We’re currently moving two of these servers every week. Are you looking to add to your current hardware? If you are then you can’t go past a V440. With the possibilities of 1 – 4 CPUs, 2 – 32GB Memory and up to 4 x 36GB, 73GB [...]

In the past, IBM z800 and IBM z900 systems have been difficult to find from the broker market. However, quite recently the face of the mainframe market has been on the move. When these machines were first released, the price tag on them was a big deal! These systems are finding their way into the [...]

Did you hear the one about the politically correct, gender neutral, politically impartial, racially non-aligned, unbiased, person of non-specific address… it wasn’t very funny. And it’s not funny at all when you upgrade high value IBM mainframe equipment and are no longer able to attach many of your older peripheral devices. There has been a [...]

Success Story  We received a phone call late last year from the University of South Australia asking about the Sun V880 System Boards that we had offered to many of you several months earlier. The guys at the University were concerned that as they had all of their maintenance with Sun Microsystems, they might not be [...]

Have you just replaced or upgraded your server? Are you changing platforms? Make sure you offer us computer hardware you no longer require – even if you think it won’t be worth much! We’ll be able to give you a quick answer on what your equipment is worth. We’re in regular contact with thousands of [...]

You can purchase pretty much anything IBM through Computer Merchants. And that includes IBM’s extensive range of Education courses. The courses can be done: in a classroom environment; via a DVL (Digital Video Library) in your own time; or via a course that is specifically tailored to suit your needs. Topics include IBM hardware and [...]

In August we sent out a “Specials email” to a few of you. As much as anything, the purpose of the email was to let you know that there are other products you can purchase from us aside from the midrange, mainframe and storage products we focus on. The products featured in the email included [...]

Where do you go when your old parts fail? Sit back and have a think of what would happen if a server or tape library, or just a piece of older hardware fails. Success Story Recently a customer contacted Computer Merchants because they had a failed power supply on one of their machines. Within one [...]

Do you currently have Sun hardware you’re no longer using? Is it sitting in the corner and you’re wondering what to do with it? Or are you about to migrate to newer equipment and need to plan for the timely removal of the older hardware? Call us on 1800 777 111! We are always looking [...]

It’s a classic scenario – you’ve just upgraded your production system and one of your team suggests that you keep the old server for development. Of course, it’s a solid, reliable performer and hasn’t caused you much pain for the 5 or so years that it’s been running your production applications. It makes sense… until you [...]

In our last newsletter, we featured a number of Sun Specials that included system boards for larger Sun Fire machines. Quite a number of our customers were intrigued by the prices we had these system boards listed for. One customer even thought we had made a mistake with our Specials! Not only do these system [...]

We all know how daunting it feels when we need to upgrade to a bigger box or add a something to your existing hardware. At the moment it’s working OK. You’ve had no problems since last time the power went out, unless of course you’re lucky enough to have a generator… But you can see [...]

With increasingly shared hardware between iSeries and pSeries machines many of you are asking questions about how to compare performance. IBM System p Traditionally, IBM Unix used the ROLTP to compare performance. Due to huge performance increases in recent years, the ROLTP has been replaced with rPerf’s, where 1 rPerf = ~ 25 ROLTP Remember though, [...]

Still in System 36 Mode? Do you still run in System 36 mode and plan to upgrade to a newer machine “sometime”? If so, here is a very important piece of information you need to be aware of… S/36 and S/38 Migration (OS/400 Option 4) and S/36 Migration Assistant (OS/400 Option 11) have both been [...]

We are often asked the question: “How long will my Hardware and Software be supported with IBM?” As we have recently seen, the models 170, 250, 7xx and earlier members of the iSeries or AS/400 family have been taken off support for V5R4. That is, V5R3 is the last version of operating system that is [...]

That’s a question we often get asked here at Computer Merchants. The answer of course depends on: where you are, what you’re after and what we have in stock at the time. There have been many times when we’ve helped a customer get out of a sticky situation. Here’s a recent example involving an Auckland [...]

IBM iSeries Technical Update was held in Brisbane in mid November The two day technical training was packed with useful information and attending was certainly time well spent. With the ever increasing ability of the iSeries to support a large variety of operating systems (like Windows, Linux or AIX) running in partitions on the same [...]

IBM recently announced that the eServer i5 now supports the placement of the load source disk in an external storage array Prior to this, the i5 would support external disk, however the requirements were that at least one disk remained under the i5 covers to act as the load source (see IBM Redbooks – iSeries [...]

What’s Hot Right Now? When we talk to our customers we often get asked “What’s hot at the moment?” Or “What have you got in stock?” At the moment the iSeries models 800, 810 and 825 represent very good value in the market. In the brokerage cycle they are in the pricing “sweet spot”. It [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “Web Specials” for more information on the following items. IBM Systems 9406 8002463-7400 25/300 cpw OS5.2 512MB memory, 5 x 17GB disks, Raid, Ethernet, 30GB ¼” Tape + [...]

Businesses around Australia and New Zealand depreciate their IT hardware at all sorts of different rates. Some can be over a few years and others up to 8 years plus. Very often, within a particular depreciation schedule there comes the need for extra disk, memory or processors. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to purchase brand new [...]

The IBM 2074 console support controller replaces the console support functions of the IBM 3174 establishment controller. One 2074 can replace multiple 3174′s. For example you would need one 3174 for every OS/390 LPAR on a system, whereas a single 2074 can manage up to 32 LPARs or system images. In fact, the 2074 model [...]

A Performance Chart is a tool for comparing different servers It allows you to know the improvement you can expect from an upgrade of your machine. Each machine is rated on performance criteria such as: floating point calculations, web server performance, client/server interaction, or raw computing power. Results are then displayed in an easy to interpret [...]

Current Sun technology is available on the used market Many Sun users have thought that only equipment that has reached end of life is good to buy used, but that’s not the case! Current Sun systems are now readily available on the used market. Of course, as they’ve become more available, the machines have become [...]

Customers often remark to us that their RS/6000 just sits in the corner and chugs away giving them little or no trouble One such customer recently reported that in the 12 years that they have been running a particular RS/6000 they have made 5 service calls to IBM – 4 of them being for their [...]